Rail-joint.



J. P. HEUER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1909.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

V siding at Pittsburg,

UNITED STATES PATENT oF-FIoE- JOHN PIUS HEUER, OF PITTSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN PIUS HEUER, a citizen of the United States of America, rein the county of Allegheny and State of Pen-ns lvania, have invented certain'new and use ul Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to rail joints, and more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in connection with my rail joint shown in Patent No. 731,181 granted to me June 16, 1903.

The primary 01316013 of the present inven tion is to provide a stronger and more du-' rable .rail joint than that disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

Another object of this invention is to combine strength, stiffness and simplicity in construction in providing a rail joint that allows expansion and contraction of the rails without displacing any of the elements thereof.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained-by a joint that will be presently considered in detail, and then specifically pointed out in the ap ended claims, and reference will now be ha to the drawing forming part of this specification, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the shape, proportion and manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the joint as a lied to rails, Fig. 2 is ii a plan of the same, g. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a. portion of the joint, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detached splice bar.

In the drawings, 1 designates the'heads, 2 the webs, and '3 the base flanges of rails adapted to confront one another and be supported through the medium of ties or sleepers bolt openings 5 at the ends thereof, and detachab y mounted in these openings are pins 6.

7 desi ates side plates provided with elllongate openings 8 to recelve the ends of t e plate 7 and the webs 2 corresponding to the Specification of Letters Patent. Application flied May 11, 1909. Serial No. 495,208.

4. The webs 2 of the rails have ordinary pins 6, the combined thickness of the- Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

lengths of the pins 6, whereby the ends of the pins 6-will not protrude beyond the outer sides of the plates 7. The object of theplates 7 is to connect the rails and prevent longitudinal displacement of one rail with relation to the other, butat the same time allow expansion and contraction of the rails. 9 designates splice bars having integral tie plates 10. The tie plates 10 are adapted to rest upon the ties 4 and support thebase flanges 3 of the rails, thereby providing a rail chair that embraces the confronting ends of the rails and prevent lateral displacement of one rail with-relation to the other, when a clamping member or strap 11 embraces the outer edges of the splice bars. Each splice bar has the inner side thereof provided with a longitudinal groove- 12 providing clearance for the side plates 7. The outer edge of each splice bar, contiguous to the ends thereof, is provided with vertical spike notches 13 and intermediate these notches the edge of the splice bar is cut away, to provide a tapering or Wedge-shaped portion 14. The splice bar, adjacent to this tapering or wedge-shaped portion 14, is provided with a raised tapering enlargement 15, said enlargement and the wedge-sha ed portion 14 cooperating to lock the c amping member in engagement with the splice bars 9. e

The inner sides of the clamping. member 11 are tapered, as at 16, and prior to placing the rails in position, the splice bars 9 are placed in en agement with the clamping member 11 A ter the rails have been connected by the side-plates 7 and properly positioned, the splice bars 9 are driven by a sledge or similar tool for driving the splice bars 9 into positive engagement with the clamping member 11, and through the medium of the tapering enlargements 15, the clamping member 11 positively engages the splice bars or binds the same in engagement with-the rails. The enlargements 15. prevent the clamping member from saggin upon the outer edges of the splice bars, and after spikes 17 have been driven into notches 13 and into ties 4 .to lock the s lice bars, the

clamping member 11 will be rmly held in- 'termediate the ends of'the s lice bars.

The invention has the 0 lowing charac teristics that provide a rail joint that can be used in connection with various types of rails, either for sub-way or elevated structures. First, the splice bars serve functionally as fish-plates, and are held against the bars can be pulled out of their working position. Second, the clamping member stiffens the joint both horizontally and vertically at the juncture of the rails, thus providing a. very stifi joint, as this additional material is in the best position for reinforcing the splice bars against lateral stresses and strains. Third, the rail joint consisting of but comparatively few parts, having no bolts, nuts or other small parts to become lost or broken, permits of the joint being manufactured at a small cost, and as no holes are to be drilled'or punched after the rails have been positioned, ordinary labor can quickly install a joint.

I reserve the right to eliminate the side plates 7, and the openings 6, and to use the rail joint in connection with various kinds of ties or sleepers.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, is.;

1. In a rail joint, the combination with rails, pins arranged ,in the Webs of said rails, and side plates provided with elongated openings to recelve the ends of said pins, of splice bars embracing said rails, said splice bars I having integral tie plates for supporting the base flanges of said rails, said splice bars'having the outer edges thereof her engage the enlargements and bind said splice bars upon said rails.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with rails, splice bars adapted to embrace the confronting ends of said rails, said splice bars having the outer edges thereof tapered, tapered enlargements carried by said splice bars adjacent to the tapered edges thereof, and a clamping member adapted to embrace said splice bars, said memberhaving the inner edges thereof tapered to engage the tapering edges of said splice bars and bind said splice bars in engagement with said rails, while the upper inner edges of said member engage sald enlargements and bind said member relative to said splice bars.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN PIUS HEUER. Witnesses:

SAMUEL PAYNE, A. J'. TRIGG. 

